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How To Find an Unpaid Wage Lawyer in Washington DC
If you've been underpaid, misclassified, or denied overtime, we fight wage & hour theft to recover the compensation you’ve earned and hold employers accountable.
Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. The attorney featured above is licensed in Florida. For a full list of attorneys in your state please visit our attorney page.
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If you have reason to believe that your current or former employer owes you unpaid wages, and they are not willing to settle the amount, then it's time to get an unpaid wage lawyer. According to statistics, there are about 80,000 active lawyers in Washington DC, meaning finding the right one for your claim shouldn't be easy. This is especially true if you don't know where to start. For this reason, we'll discuss some of the most important factors to consider when looking for an unpaid wage lawyer in Washington DC.
Finding an Unpaid Lawyer in Washington DC: Where to Start
The first step in finding the right unpaid lawyer in Washington DC is by looking around you. Do you have a friend or family member who's ever hired such an attorney? If so, call them and find out about their experience with that particular attorney.
You may be surprised to find out that they've actually worked with such an attorney or know someone who has.
The second option is conducting a thorough search online.
But let's face it: not every law firm that pops up on the first page of Google or any other search engine is worth contacting. Therefore, it's always advisable to ask yourself additional questions before choosing a particular law firm or lawyer.
Some of these questions include:
What's Their Success Rate?
Whether an individual attorney or a law firm, their success rate determines what to expect when you work with them to represent you in your unpaid wages claim. For example, Morgan & Morgan boasts some of the highest success rates in personal injury law, having recovered over $25 billion for their clients! And that's not all - in 2012, the law firm helped their clients recover $6.5 million in a lawsuit over unpaid overtime. With such statistics, you'll always be confident working with a result-oriented law firm.
Does the Law Firm or Attorney Have a Good Reputation?
Reading online reviews is one of the best ways to find out what other customers think about a particular law firm or attorney. Avoid working with law firms that have mostly negative or fair reviews. Instead, you need a law firm with positive reviews, and that's where Morgan & Morgan comes in once again.
The firm has over 28,000 5-star reviews on Google, and that's something very few law firms can brag about.
What Are Their Resources?
Working with a gigantic law firm over a small one comes with many benefits. Here's why.
In most cases, a large law firm usually has more than enough resources to represent you in or out of court. However, working with an individual attorney or a small firm comes with some challenges.
First, they tend to get overwhelmed handling multiple cases at the same time. Second, they usually don't have enough resources to fight for your claim, especially in court. And when that happens, they may settle for a lesser amount just to get the claim off their to-do list and move on to the next.
But you shouldn't worry about that when you work with a giant law firm like Morgan & Morgan. The firm boasts over 1,000 lawyers practicing in different cities and states across the United States. Moreover, when you get in touch with Morgan & Morgan, the law firm will assign an individual attorney to handle your case from start to finish, ensuring that it gets all the attention it deserves.
You won't have to worry about working with an attorney who's too busy to pick up your calls to follow up with your case. This is because Morgan & Morgan has unlimited resources to fight for their client's rights. So if your current or former employer thinks that they'll frustrate you with lengthy court proceedings, hoping your attorney will back off and settle for less, that's not happening with Morgan & Morgan's unpaid wage attorneys.
What's Their Location?
Some attorneys claim to practice in Washington DC but don't even live there. Unfortunately, this happens often, especially when you settle for any random attorney or law firm you find online.
On the contrary, you need an unpaid wage attorney who practices in Washington DC and is also familiar with D.C. unpaid wages laws. For example, Morgan & Morgan have a physical office in Washington DC, meaning they'll always have an attorney you can talk to and even meet whenever necessary.
What's Their Payment Structure?
Many victims of unpaid wages often don't sue their employers because they are worried about not being able to afford an attorney, and that's totally understandable. But did you know that unless you win the claim, you don't need to pay a single cent when you hire an unpaid wage attorney from Morgan & Morgan?
The law firm understands the pain and frustration you're going through, especially after working tirelessly for your employer, only to discover that they won't be paying what they owe you. For this reason, the last thing Morgan & Morgan wants is to make the entire process even more frustrating and financially draining. That's why we only charge our clients on a contingency basis, meaning they don't pay us unless we win the case for them.
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How to Prove an Unpaid Wage Claim
Before the court awards you the unpaid wage, you'll have to prove that your employer actually owes you the same. This can be frustrating, especially if your employer isn't so cooperative.
In that case, here's what you need to do.
Submit Your Request in Writing
Let your employer know that you need them to send you a copy of your payroll documents. Legally, they are required to do so. Submit this request in writing and then keep a copy. If your employer doesn't respond, this copy will prove they knew what you needed but didn't provide.
Gather Your Payroll Records
It's easy to prove the hours you work if you have the paystubs or other payroll records for reference. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recommends keeping your payroll records for a minimum of one year after leaving a place of employment.
What if Your Employer Provides False Time Records?
If the time records have been manipulated, showing that your employer doesn't owe you unpaid wages, you'll need to speak to an experienced employment law attorney from Morgan & Morgan.
Sometimes, the wrong time record could be due to a genuine computing mistake. However, speaking to an attorney will help determine whether your employer has committed fraud in calculating your wages.
Proving Unpaid Wages: What You Need
Even if you're convinced that your employer owes you unpaid wages, proving it is the most difficult part. An attorney can help you prove unpaid wages, but to do this, they'll need your help.
Here's what you need.
Witness Statements
Did you work with any employees during that particular shift? If so, note down their names and contact information, and then request them to write a witness testimony on your behalf.
Employee Records
It's good practice to record the time you clocked in and out of a particular shift. Documentation proves that you were actually at work during that specific time in question. For example, you may keep notes of what happened during that particular shift. This information can be used to prove to your employer that you worked on that specific day.
Job Records
The payroll and employee records aside, job records are a little bit different. For example, suppose you're required to sign a cleaning checklist on your shift, and you did that. In that case, this information can be used to prove that you worked your shift as expected.
Electronic Information
If required to input data electronically, for example clocking in through a software when you arrive at work, this information will be vital in the litigation process.
Video Surveillance
Many companies have video surveillance installed at their premises for security reasons. It would be great to obtain this footage to prove that you were at work on that particular day. Although your employer may be reluctant to provide such footage, an employment law attorney can obtain it on your behalf.
How Can a Morgan & Morgan Attorney Help?
Hiring a Morgan & Morgan employment law attorney can change the course of your claim. Here's why.
What You Claim Isn't Usually What They Owe
Many victims of unpaid wages usually don't receive the correct settlement even after winning their lawsuits. This happens especially when they hire attorneys who don't know how to calculate the full amount owed.
Other than the unpaid wages, Morgan & Morgan attorneys calculate additional factors to determine the exact settlement the defendant needs to pay their client, depending on the nature of the claim.
For example, unpaid wages claims against employers who intentionally refuse to pay their employees usually attract a bigger settlement than those involving employers who made a genuine computing mistake.
Vast Experience in Washington DC Employment Law
Employment laws vary from state to state. For this reason, hiring an employment law attorney from Morgan & Morgan means you'll be assigned an attorney who not only practices in D.C., but is also familiar with the district's employment laws.
For example, if you work at a restaurant in D.C., the hourly wage is slightly different because you're considered a 'tipped employee.' However, the same policy doesn't apply to an 'untipped employee' such as a healthcare worker.
So when it comes to calculating the exact amount owed and breaking down the local employment laws, it's best to leave this task to an experienced employment law attorney from Morgan & Morgan.
Results-Oriented Law Firm
Morgan & Morgan is a result-oriented personal injury law firm, having won over $25 billion for our clients so far and resolved over 70,000 cases. We don't settle for just any compensation; we demand total compensation for our clients, holding the defendants accountable in the process.
Come to think of it, if such employers get away with paying half of what they owe you, that won't be too bad for their businesses. And guess what? They'll repeat the same tactic with another unsuspecting employee and won't even face any legal action.
For this reason, Morgan & Morgan employment law attorneys are not only driven by the need to have you compensated for what you're entitled to but also to hold such employers accountable for their actions. This approach also prevents other employees from going through the same loss you've suffered.
To check out some of the most recent verdicts and results from lawsuits filed by Morgan & Morgan, click here.
Other reasons to contact Morgan & Morgan unpaid wage lawyers include:
- Free case evaluation: they'll tell you what your case is worth.
- No upfront fees: you'll only pay them when they win the case.
- Proven track record: Morgan & Morgan only hires the best personal injury attorneys in the industry with a proven track record.
- 24-hour availability: you can call Morgan & Morgan Washington DC office 24 hours a day at (202) 772-0560.
Is It Too Late To File an Unpaid Wage Claim in D.C.?
The deadline for filing an unpaid wage claim in Washington D.C. is three years from the day the claim arose. However, it's never advisable to wait that long before filing a claim. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to prove your claim.
What Is an Unpaid Wage Settlement?
A settlement is an agreement between you and the employer that states you agree to accept a certain amount of money after successfully winning a lawsuit. Morgan & Morgan unpaid wage attorneys can help you reach the right settlement with your employer based on the nature of the claim.
What Is the Minimum Wage in Washington DC?
As of July 21, 2021, the minimum wage in D.C. is $15.20. Employment law attorneys usually consider the minimum wage, the nature of the job, among other factors, when calculating unpaid wages.
If you believe your present or past employer owes you unpaid wages, contact Morgan & Morgan employment law attorneys in D.C. today at (202) 772-0560 for a free case evaluation and a possible legal representation!